Sharks captain Joe Thornton and a less obvious choice, defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic, took care of business against the Red Wings on Thursday night at HP Pavilion.

Thornton's hustle helped the Sharks score a momentum-changing short-handed goal at the end of the first period, and he put the Sharks ahead with a second-period goal on a breakaway. Vlasic added a goal and three assists in a 5-2 victory over Detroit.

San Jose has taken firm charge of the series against the Red Wings, with five regular-season victories in a row to go along with knocking Detroit out of the playoffs each of the past two seasons.

Vlasic's four points were a career high, and he was the first Sharks defenseman with four points in a game since Rob Blake on Nov. 22, 2008. Entering the game, Vlasic had four total points in the first 15 games.

"He was down in the offensive zone a little more tonight," Thornton said. "Maybe he's our secret weapon."